Morton County State's Attorney Choose 1
State's Attorneys provide guidance to county commissioners and officials in interpreting the meaning of the North Dakota Century Code and legislation and represent the state in criminal cases, acting as prosecutors. Learn more at www.ndsaa.org.
Biographical Information
What are your top priorities?
To pursue just outcomes
What skills or experience would you bring to the position?
I have been with the Morton County State’s Attorney since 2017 when I became an attorney. Since becoming an attorney I have handled countless cases from Minor in Possessions to Murder. I have also handled numerous appeals.
How would you ensure that all individuals who enter the state’s courts receive equal access to justice?
I do what I have always done, tried to make sure that everyone’s rights are being respected. This includes upholding a defendants rights in court and calling out when those rights are being forgotten. I also make sure that victims are aware of limitations and issues with cases in addition to the strengths, so that they can make informed decisions.
Is there a role for the State’s Attorney to help reduce recidivism (reoffending) rates in our criminal justice system?
That is the whole point, in a perfect world State’s Attorneys would not be needed. There is a big focus in sentencing on addressing the causes of the underlying conduct where possible. The criminal justice system criminalizes the conduct. Since behavior is a product of mental processes, we need to address the decision making process so we can, hopefully, reduce the behavior.